Image processing method and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are an image processing method and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, the image processing method comprises the steps of: obtaining an intra prediction mode; obtaining a reference sample using a neighboring sample of the current block; determining whether to perform filtering on the reference sample; filtering the reference sample if it is determined to perform the filtering; and generating a prediction block using the reference sample or the filtered reference sample on the basis of the prediction mode, wherein the current block is a non-square block, the reference sample comprises a left reference sample and a top reference sample, and whether to perform the filtering is determined on the basis of at least one of a current block parameter or a surrounding block parameter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/KR2017/010778, filed on Sep. 28, 2017,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications No.62/401,898, filed on Sep. 30, 2016, the contents of which are all herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for processing a still imageor moving image and, more particularly, to a method forencoding/decoding a still image or moving image based on anintra-prediction mode and an apparatus supporting the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Compression encoding means a series of signal processing techniques fortransmitting digitized information through a communication line ortechniques for storing information in a form suitable for a storagemedium. The medium including a picture, an image, audio, etc. may be atarget for compression encoding, and particularly, a technique forperforming compression encoding on a picture is referred to as videoimage compression.

Next-generation video contents are supposed to have the characteristicsof high spatial resolution, a high frame rate and high dimensionality ofscene representation. In order to process such contents, a drasticincrease in the memory storage, memory access rate and processing powerwill result.

Accordingly, it is required to design a coding tool for processingnext-generation video contents efficiently.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

In the existing still image or moving image compression technology, amethod of compressing video based on a block is used. Specifically, inan intra prediction mode, when a current processing block is anon-square block, there is a problem in that a criterion for determiningwhether to perform reference sample filtering and/or a filter type isambiguous.

In order to solve the problem, an object of the present invention is toprovide a method and apparatus capable of improving prediction accuracyby determining whether to perform reference sample filtering and/or afiltering type using a parameter related to a current block and/or aparameter related to a peripheral block of the current block.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for determining whether to perform filtering and/or afilter type based on the length of a side of a current block, the numberof samples, a quantization parameter or the distance between aprediction sample and a reference sample as a current block parameter.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for determining whether to perform filtering and/or afilter type based on the quantization parameter of a peripheral block,the number of residual coefficients, a flag indicating whether aresidual coefficient is present or not or block boundary-relatedinformation as a parameter of the peripheral block.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for determining whether or not filtering for a topreference sample and a left reference sample is separately possible orfor determining whether reference is possible before whether to performfiltering is determined.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for determining whether to perform filtering on anon-square block and/or a filter type using the table of square blockswithout defining a separate table for a non-square block.

Technical objects to be achieved in the present invention are notlimited to the above-described technical objects, and other technicalobjects not described above may be evidently understood by a personhaving ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertainsfrom the following description.

Technical Solution

In an aspect of the present invention, a video decoding method includesobtaining an intra prediction mode of a current block; obtaining areference sample for generating a prediction block of the current blockusing a neighboring sample of the current block; determining whether toperform filtering on the reference sample; filtering the referencesample when the filtering is determined to be performed; and generatingthe prediction block using the reference sample or the filteredreference sample based on the intra prediction mode. The current blockis a non-square block, the reference sample includes a left referencesample including samples positioned on the left and bottom left of aleft vertical edge of the current block and a top reference sampleincluding samples positioned on the top and top right of a tophorizontal edge of the current block, and one of the left referencesample and the top reference sample includes a top-left sample of thecurrent block. In the step of determining whether to perform thefiltering, whether to perform the filtering is determined based on atleast one of a current block parameter, which is a parameter related tothe current block, or a peripheral block parameter, which is a parameterrelated to a peripheral block of the current block, along with the intraprediction mode.

Preferably, the current block parameter includes at least one of ahorizontal edge length indicating the length of a horizontal edge of thecurrent block or a vertical edge length indicating the length of avertical edge of the current block. In the step of determining whetherto perform the filtering, the filtering is determined to be performedbased on the length of an edge having a greater value or the length ofan edge having a smaller value among the horizontal edge length and thevertical edge length.

Preferably, in the step of determining whether to perform the filtering,whether to perform filtering on the top reference sample is determinedbased on the horizontal edge length and whether to perform filtering onthe left reference sample is determined based on the vertical edgelength. In the step of filtering, the top reference sample and the leftreference sample are independently filtered.

Preferably, the current block parameter includes a sample number of thecurrent block. In the step of determining whether to perform thefiltering, the filtering is determined to be performed on a first squareblock having a sample number identical with the sample number or asecond square block, which is the greatest block of square blocks havinga sample number smaller than the sample number, when the filtering isperformed in the intra prediction mode based on a pre-defined condition.

Preferably, the current block parameter includes a first quantizationparameter related to a quantization rate of the current block. In thestep of determining whether to perform the filtering, the filtering isdetermined to be performed when the first quantization parameter isgreater than a first threshold. In the step of filtering, a filter typeis determined depending on whether the first quantization parameter isgreater than the first threshold.

Preferably, the current block parameter includes at least one of avertical distance between a prediction sample within the current blockand the top reference sample or a horizontal distance between theprediction block and the left reference sample. In the step ofdetermining whether to perform the filtering, the filtering isdetermined to be performed when the vertical distance is greater than asecond threshold, when the horizontal distance is greater than a thirdthreshold or when the vertical distance is greater than the secondthreshold and the horizontal distance is greater than the thirdthreshold. In the step of filtering, a filter type is determineddepending on whether the vertical distance is greater than the secondthreshold and/or when the horizontal distance is greater than the thirdthreshold.

Preferably, the peripheral block parameter includes a secondquantization parameter related to a quantization rate of the peripheralblock. In the step of determining whether to perform the filtering, thefiltering is determined to be performed when the second quantizationparameter is greater than a fourth threshold. In the step of filtering,a filter type is determined depending on whether the second quantizationparameter is greater than the fourth threshold.

Preferably, the peripheral block parameter includes the number ofresidual coefficients of the peripheral block. In the step ofdetermining whether to perform the filtering, the filtering isdetermined to be performed when the number of residual coefficients isgreater than a fifth threshold. In the step of filtering, a filter typeis determined depending on whether the number of residual coefficientsis greater than the fifth threshold.

Preferably, the peripheral block parameter includes a flag indicatingwhether a residual coefficient is present in the peripheral block. Inthe step of determining whether to perform the filtering, the filteringis determined to be performed when the flag indicates that the residualcoefficient is present.

Preferably, the peripheral block parameter includes an edge parameterindicating whether at least one of the top reference sample or the leftreference sample is configured with samples belonging to differentperipheral blocks. In the step of determining whether to perform thefiltering, the filtering is determined to be performed when the edgeparameter indicates that at least one of the top reference sample or theleft reference sample is configured with samples belonging to thedifferent peripheral samples.

Preferably, the peripheral block parameter includes the number ofdifferent peripheral samples to which the reference sample belongs. Inthe step of determining whether to perform the filtering, the filteringis determined to be performed when the number of different peripheralsamples is greater than a sixth threshold. In the step of filtering, afilter type is determined depending on whether the number of differentperipheral samples is greater than the sixth threshold.

Preferably, the video decoding method further includes confirmingwhether the top reference sample and the left reference sample arereferenceable. In the step of determining whether to perform thefiltering, if one of the top reference sample and the left referencesample is referenceable, the filtering is determined to be performedbased on the length of an edge neighboring a referenceable sample amonga horizontal edge length indicating the length of a horizontal edge ofthe current block or a vertical edge length indicating the length of avertical edge of the current block, and otherwise, the filtering isdetermined to be performed based on the length of an edge having agreater value or the length of an edge having a smaller value among thehorizontal edge length and the vertical edge length or whether toperform filtering on the top reference sample and the left referencesample are independently determined based on the horizontal edge lengthand the vertical edge length.

In an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for decoding videoincludes an intra prediction unit configured to generate a predictionblock of a current block based on an intra prediction mode. The intraprediction unit includes an intra prediction mode acquisition unitconfigured to obtain the intra prediction mode of the current block; areference sample acquisition unit configured to obtain a referencesample for generating the prediction block; a reference sample filteringunit configured to determine whether to perform filtering on thereference sample and to filter the reference sample when the filteringis determined to be performed; and a prediction block generation unitconfigured to generate the prediction block using the reference sampleof the current block or the filtered reference sample. The current blockis a non-square block. The reference sample includes a left referencesample including samples positioned on a left and bottom left of a leftvertical edge of the current block and a top reference sample includingsamples positioned on the top and top right of a top horizontal edge ofthe current block, and one of the left reference sample and the topreference sample includes a top-left sample of the current block. In thestep of determining whether to perform the filtering, whether to performthe filtering is determined based on at least one of a current blockparameter, which is a parameter related to the current block, or aperipheral block parameter, which is a parameter related to a peripheralblock of the current block, along with the intra prediction mode.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, predictionaccuracy can be improved by determining whether to perform referencesample filtering and a filtering type using at least one of a currentblock parameter, that is, a parameter related to a current block, or aperipheral block parameter, that is, a parameter related to a peripheralblock, when the current block is a non-square block.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,a pre-defined table for a square block is used in a process ofdetermining whether to perform reference sample filtering and afiltering type. Accordingly, additional memory consumption of theencoder/decoder can be reduced because it is not necessary to store aseparate table for a non-square block.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,prediction performance in a block having artifacts mixed therein or ablock of a detailed image can be improved because a current blockparameter (the length of a side, a quantization parameter, the number ofsamples or the distance between a prediction sample and a referencesample) and/or a peripheral block parameter (a quantization parameter,the number of residual coefficients, whether a residual coefficient ispresent (Cbf) or boundary-related information) is used.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,prediction performance can be further improved because a current blockparameter and a peripheral block parameter are combined and used.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,prediction performance can be further improved because whether toperform filtering a top reference sample and a left reference sample anda filtering type are independently determined.

Effects which may be obtained in the present invention are not limitedto the above-described effects, and other technical effects notdescribed above may be evidently understood by a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention pertains from thefollowing description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included herein as a part of thedescription for help understanding the present invention, provideembodiments of the present invention, and describe the technicalfeatures of the present invention with the description below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an encoder in which theencoding of a still image or video signal is performed, as an embodimentto which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a decoder in whichdecoding of a still image or video signal is performed, as an embodimentto which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a split structure of a coding unitthat may be applied to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a prediction unit that may be appliedto the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment to which the present invention is applied and isa diagram illustrating an intra-prediction method.

FIG. 6 illustrates a prediction direction according to anintra-prediction mode.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment to which the present invention is applied and isa diagram for illustrating a quadtree binarytree (hereinafter referredto as a “QTBT”) block split structure.

FIG. 8 shows a current processing block and reference samples forgenerating a prediction block of the current processing block when thecurrent processing block is a square block according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a current processing block and reference samples forgenerating a prediction block of the current processing block when thecurrent processing block is a non-square block according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the intra prediction unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a video decoding method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed by reference to the accompanying drawings. The descriptionthat will be described below with the accompanying drawings is todescribe exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and is notintended to describe the only embodiment in which the present inventionmay be implemented. The description below includes particular details inorder to provide perfect understanding of the present invention.However, it is understood that the present invention may be embodiedwithout the particular details to those skilled in the art.

In some cases, in order to prevent the technical concept of the presentinvention from being unclear, structures or devices which are publiclyknown may be omitted, or may be depicted as a block diagram centering onthe core functions of the structures or the devices.

Further, although general terms widely used currently are selected asthe terms in the present invention as much as possible, a term that isarbitrarily selected by the applicant is used in a specific case. Sincethe meaning of the term will be clearly described in the correspondingpart of the description in such a case, it is understood that thepresent invention will not be simply interpreted by the terms only usedin the description of the present invention, but the meaning of theterms should be figured out.

Specific terminologies used in the description below may be provided tohelp the understanding of the present invention. Furthermore, thespecific terminology may be modified into other forms within the scopeof the technical concept of the present invention. For example, asignal, data, a sample, a picture, a frame, a block, etc may be properlyreplaced and interpreted in each coding process.

Hereinafter, in this specification, a “block” or “unit” means a unit bywhich an encoding/decoding process, such as prediction, transform and/orquantization, is performed, and may be configured with amulti-dimensional array of samples (or picture elements, pixels).

A “block” or “unit” may mean a multi-dimensional array of samples for aluma component and may mean a multi-dimensional array of samples for achroma component. Furthermore, a “block” or “unit” may generally referto both a multi-dimensional array of samples for a luma component and amulti-dimensional array of samples for a chroma component.

For example, a “block” or “unit” may be interpreted as a meaning,including all of a coding block (CB) meaning the array of samples, thatis, a target on which encoding/decoding will be performed, a coding treeblock (CTB) configured with a plurality of coding blocks, a predictionblock (PB) (or prediction unit (PU) meaning the array of samples towhich the same prediction is applied, and a transform block (TB) (ortransform unit (TU)) meaning the array of samples to which the sametransform is applied.

Furthermore, unless described otherwise in this specification, a “block”or “unit” may be interpreted as a meaning, including a syntax structureused in a process of encoding/decoding the array of samples for a lumacomponent and/or a chroma component. In this case, the syntax structuremeans 0 or more syntax elements present within a bit stream in aspecific sequence. The syntax element means the element of datarepresented within the bit stream.

For example, a “block” or “unit” may be interpreted as a meaning,including all of a coding unit (CU) including a coding block (CB) and asyntax structure used for the encoding of a corresponding coding block(CB), a coding tree unit (CTU) configured with a plurality of codingunits, a prediction unit (PU) including a prediction block (PB) and asyntax structure used for the prediction of a corresponding predictionblock (PB), and a transform unit (TU) including a transform block (TB)and a syntax structure used for the transform of a correspondingtransform block (TB).

Furthermore, in this specification, a “block” or “unit” is notessentially limited to the array of samples (or picture elements,pixels) of a square or rectangular form, and may mean the array ofsamples (or picture elements, pixels) of a polygonal form having threeor more vertexes. In this case, the “block” or “unit” may also be calleda polygon block or a polygon unit.

Furthermore, hereinafter, in this specification, a pixel or pictureelement is generally called a sample. Furthermore, to use a sample maymean to use a pixel value or picture element value.

Furthermore, hereinafter, a current block to which a technology proposedin this specification is applied indicates a non-square block unlessdescribed otherwise.

FIG. 1 is illustrates a schematic block diagram of an encoder in whichthe encoding of a still image or video signal is performed, as anembodiment to which the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, the encoder 100 may include a video split unit 110,a subtractor 115, a transform unit 120, a quantization unit 130, adequantization unit 140, an inverse transform unit 150, a filtering unit160, a decoded picture buffer (DPB) 170, a prediction unit 180 and anentropy encoding unit 190. Furthermore, the prediction unit 180 mayinclude an inter-prediction unit 181 and an intra-prediction unit 182.

The video split unit 110 splits an input video signal (or picture orframe), input to the encoder 100, into one or more processing units.

The subtractor 115 generates a residual signal (or residual block) bysubtracting a prediction signal (or prediction block), output by theprediction unit 180 (i.e., by the inter-prediction unit 181 or theintra-prediction unit 182), from the input video signal. The generatedresidual signal (or residual block) is transmitted to the transform unit120.

The transform unit 120 generates transform coefficients by applying atransform scheme (e.g., discrete cosine transform (DOT), discrete sinetransform (DST), graph-based transform (GBT) or Karhunen-Loeve transform(KLT)) to the residual signal (or residual block). In this case, thetransform unit 120 may generate transform coefficients by performingtransform using a prediction mode applied to the residual block and atransform scheme determined based on the size of the residual block.

The quantization unit 130 quantizes the transform coefficient andtransmits it to the entropy encoding unit 190, and the entropy encodingunit 190 performs an entropy coding operation of the quantized signaland outputs it as a bit stream.

Meanwhile, the quantized signal outputted by the quantization unit 130may be used to generate a prediction signal. For example, a residualsignal may be reconstructed by applying dequatization and inversetransformation to the quantized signal through the dequantization unit140 and the inverse transform unit 150. A reconstructed signal may begenerated by adding the reconstructed residual signal to the predictionsignal output by the inter-prediction unit 181 or the intra-predictionunit 182.

Meanwhile, during such a compression process, neighbor blocks arequantized by different quantization parameters. Accordingly, an artifactin which a block boundary is shown may occur. Such a phenomenon isreferred to a blocking artifact, which is one of important factors forevaluating image quality. In order to decrease such an artifact, afiltering process may be performed. Through such a filtering process,the blocking artifact is removed and the error of a current picture isdecreased at the same time, thereby improving image quality.

The filtering unit 160 applies filtering to the reconstructed signal,and outputs it through a playback device or transmits it to the decodedpicture buffer 170. The filtered signal transmitted to the decodedpicture buffer 170 may be used as a reference picture in theinter-prediction unit 181. As described above, an encoding rate as wellas image quality can be improved using the filtered picture as areference picture in an inter-picture prediction mode.

The decoded picture buffer 170 may store the filtered picture in orderto use it as a reference picture in the inter-prediction unit 181.

The inter-prediction unit 181 performs temporal prediction and/orspatial prediction with reference to the reconstructed picture in orderto remove temporal redundancy and/or spatial redundancy. In this case, ablocking artifact or ringing artifact may occur because a referencepicture used to perform prediction is a transformed signal thatexperiences quantization or dequantization in a block unit when it isencoded/decoded previously.

Accordingly, in order to solve performance degradation attributable tothe discontinuity of such a signal or quantization, signals betweenpixels may be interpolated in a sub-pixel unit by applying a low passfilter to the inter-prediction unit 181. In this case, the sub-pixelmeans a virtual pixel generated by applying an interpolation filter, andan integer pixel means an actual pixel that is present in areconstructed picture. A linear interpolation, a bi-linearinterpolation, a wiener filter, and the like may be applied as aninterpolation method.

The interpolation filter may be applied to the reconstructed picture,and may improve the accuracy of prediction. For example, theinter-prediction unit 181 may perform prediction by generating aninterpolation pixel by applying the interpolation filter to the integerpixel and by using the interpolated block including interpolated pixelsas a prediction block.

The intra-prediction unit 182 predicts a current block with reference tosamples neighboring the block that is now to be encoded. Theintra-prediction unit 182 may perform the following procedure in orderto perform intra-prediction. First, the intra-prediction unit 182 mayprepare a reference sample necessary to generate a prediction signal.Furthermore, the intra-prediction unit 182 may generate a predictionsignal using the prepared reference sample. Furthermore, theintra-prediction unit 182 may encode a prediction mode. In this case,the reference sample may be prepared through reference sample paddingand/or reference sample filtering. A quantization error may be presentbecause the reference sample experiences the prediction and thereconstruction process. Accordingly, in order to reduce such an error, areference sample filtering process may be performed on each predictionmode used for the intra-prediction.

The prediction signal (or prediction block) generated through theinter-prediction unit 181 or the intra-prediction unit 182 may be usedto generate a reconstructed signal (or reconstructed block) or may beused to generate a residual signal (or residual block).

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a decoder in whichdecoding of a still image or video signal is performed, as an embodimentto which the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 2, the decoder 200 may include an entropy decodingunit 210, a dequantization unit 220, an inverse transform unit 230, anadder 235, a filtering unit 240, a decoded picture buffer (DPB) 250 anda prediction unit 260. Furthermore, the prediction unit 260 may includean inter-prediction unit 261 and an intra-prediction unit 262.

Furthermore, a reconstructed video signal output through the decoder 200may be played back through a playback device.

The decoder 200 receives a signal (i.e., bit stream) output by theencoder 100 shown in FIG. 1. The entropy decoding unit 210 performs anentropy decoding operation on the received signal.

The dequantization unit 220 obtains transform coefficients from theentropy-decoded signal using quantization step size information.

The inverse transform unit 230 obtains a residual signal (or residualblock) by inverse transforming the transform coefficients by applying aninverse transform scheme.

The adder 235 adds the obtained residual signal (or residual block) tothe prediction signal (or prediction block) output by the predictionunit 260 (i.e., the inter-prediction unit 261 or the intra-predictionunit 262), thereby generating a reconstructed signal (or reconstructedblock).

The filtering unit 240 applies filtering to the reconstructed signal (orreconstructed block) and outputs the filtered signal to a playbackdevice or transmits the filtered signal to the decoded picture buffer250. The filtered signal transmitted to the decoded picture buffer 250may be used as a reference picture in the inter-prediction unit 261.

In this specification, the embodiments described in the filtering unit160, inter-prediction unit 181 and intra-prediction unit 182 of theencoder 100 may be identically applied to the filtering unit 240,inter-prediction unit 261 and intra-prediction unit 262 of the decoder,respectively.

In general, a block-based image compression method is used in thecompression technique (e.g., HEVC) of a still image or a video. Theblock-based image compression method is a method of processing an imageby splitting it into specific block units, and may decrease memory useand a computational load.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a split structure of a coding unitwhich may be applied to the present invention.

An encoder splits a single image (or picture) into coding tree units(CTUs) of a quadrangle form, and sequentially encodes the CTUs one byone according to raster scan order.

In HEVC, a size of CTU may be determined as one of 64×64, 32×32, and16×16. The encoder may select and use the size of a CTU based onresolution of an input video signal or the characteristics of inputvideo signal. The CTU includes a coding tree block (CTB) for a lumacomponent and the CTB for two chroma components that correspond to it.

One CTU may be split in a quad-tree structure. That is, one CTU may besplit into four units each having a square form and having a halfhorizontal size and a half vertical size, thereby being capable ofgenerating coding units (CUs). Such splitting of the quad-tree structuremay be recursively performed. That is, the CUs are hierarchically splitfrom one CTU in the quad-tree structure.

A CU means a basic unit for the processing process of an input videosignal, for example, coding in which intra/inter prediction isperformed. A CU includes a coding block (CB) for a luma component and aCB for two chroma components corresponding to the luma component. InHEVC, a CU size may be determined as one of 64×64, 32×32, 16×16, and8×8.

Referring to FIG. 3, the root node of a quad-tree is related to a CTU.The quad-tree is split until a leaf node is reached. The leaf nodecorresponds to a CU.

This is described in more detail. The CTU corresponds to the root nodeand has the smallest depth (i.e., depth=0) value. A CTU may not be splitdepending on the characteristics of an input video signal. In this case,the CTU corresponds to a CU.

A CTU may be split in a quad-tree form. As a result, lower nodes, thatis, a depth 1 (depth=1), are generated. Furthermore, a node (i.e., leafnode) that belongs to the lower nodes having the depth of 1 and that isno longer split corresponds to a CU. For example, in FIG. 3(b), a CU(a),a CU(b) and a CU(j) corresponding to nodes a, b and j have been oncesplit from the CTU, and have a depth of 1.

At least one of the nodes having the depth of 1 may be split in aquad-tree form. As a result, lower nodes having a depth 1 (i.e.,depth=2) are generated. Furthermore, a node (i.e., leaf node) thatbelongs to the lower nodes having the depth of 2 and that is no longersplit corresponds to a CU. For example, in FIG. 3(b), a CU(c), a CU(h)and a CU(i) corresponding to nodes c, h and i have been twice split fromthe CTU, and have a depth of 2.

Furthermore, at least one of the nodes having the depth of 2 may besplit in a quad-tree form again. As a result, lower nodes having a depth3 (i.e., depth=3) are generated. Furthermore, a node (i.e., leaf node)that belongs to the lower nodes having the depth of 3 and that is nolonger split corresponds to a CU. For example, in FIG. 3(b), a CU(d), aCU(e), a CU(f) and a CU(g) corresponding to nodes d, e, f and g havebeen three times split from the CTU, and have a depth of 3.

In the encoder, a maximum size or minimum size of a CU may be determinedbased on the characteristics of a video image (e.g., resolution) or byconsidering the encoding rate. Furthermore, information about themaximum or minimum size or information capable of deriving theinformation may be included in a bit stream. A CU having a maximum sizeis referred to as the largest coding unit (LCU), and a CU having aminimum size is referred to as the smallest coding unit (SCU).

In addition, a CU having a tree structure may be hierarchically splitwith predetermined maximum depth information (or maximum levelinformation). Furthermore, each split CU may have depth information.Since the depth information represents a split count and/or degree of aCU, it may include information about the size of a CU.

Since the LCU is split in a Quad-tree shape, the size of SCU may beobtained by using a size of LCU and the maximum depth information. Or,inversely, the size of LCU may be obtained by using a size of SCU andthe maximum depth information of the tree.

For a single CU, the information (e.g., a split CU flag (split_cu_flag))that represents whether the corresponding CU is split may be forwardedto the decoder. This split information is included in all CUs except theSCU. For example, when the value of the flag that represents whether tosplit is ‘1’, the corresponding CU is further split into four CUs, andwhen the value of the flag that represents whether to split is ‘0’, thecorresponding CU is not split any more, and the processing process forthe corresponding CU may be performed.

As described above, a CU is a basic unit of the coding in which theintra-prediction or the inter-prediction is performed. The HEVC splitsthe CU in a prediction unit (PU) for coding an input video signal moreeffectively.

A PU is a basic unit for generating a prediction block, and even in asingle CU, the prediction block may be generated in different way by aunit of PU. However, the intra-prediction and the inter-prediction arenot used together for the PUs that belong to a single CU, and the PUsthat belong to a single CU are coded by the same prediction method(i.e., the intra-prediction or the inter-prediction).

A PU is not split in the Quad-tree structure, but is split once in asingle CU in a predetermined shape. This will be described by referenceto the drawing below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a prediction unit that may be appliedto the present invention.

A PU is differently split depending on whether the intra-prediction modeis used or the inter-prediction mode is used as the coding mode of theCU to which the PU belongs.

FIG. 4(a) illustrates a PU if the intra-prediction mode is used, andFIG. 4(b) illustrates a PU if the inter-prediction mode is used.

Referring to FIG. 4(a), assuming that the size of a single CU is 2N×2N(N=4, 8, 16 and 32), the single CU may be split into two types (i.e.,2N×2N or N×N).

In this case, if a single CU is split into the PU of a 2N×2N shape, itmeans that only one PU is present in a single CU.

Meanwhile, if a single CU is split into the PU of N×N shape, a single CUis split into four PUs, and different prediction blocks are generatedfor each PU unit. However, such PU splitting may be performed only ifthe size of CB for the luma component of CU is the minimum size (i.e.,the case that a CU is an SCU).

Referring to FIG. 4(b), assuming that the size of a single CU is 2N×2N(N=4, 8, 16 and 32), a single CU may be split into eight PU types (i.e.,2N×2N, N×N, 2N×N, N×2N, nL×2N, nR×2N, 2N×nU and 2N×nD)

As in the intra-prediction, the PU split of N×N shape may be performedonly if the size of CB for the luma component of CU is the minimum size(i.e., the case that a CU is an SCU).

The inter-prediction supports the PU split in the shape of 2N×N that issplit in a horizontal direction and in the shape of N×2N that is splitin a vertical direction.

In addition, the inter-prediction supports the PU split in the shape ofnL×2N, nR×2N, 2N×nU and 2N×nD, which is an asymmetric motion split(AMP). In this case, ‘n’ means ¼ value of 2N. However, the AMP may notbe used if the CU to which the PU is belonged is the CU of minimum size.

In order to encode the input video signal in a single CTU efficiently,the optimal split structure of the coding unit (CU), the prediction unit(PU) and the transform unit (TU) may be determined based on a minimumrate-distortion value through the processing process as follows. Forexample, as for the optimal CU split process in a 64×64 CTU, therate-distortion cost may be calculated through the split process from aCU of 64×64 size to a CU of 8×8 size. The detailed process is asfollows.

1) The optimal split structure of a PU and TU that generates the minimumrate distortion value is determined by performinginter/intra-prediction, transformation/quantization,dequantization/inverse transformation and entropy encoding on the CU of64×64 size.

2) The optimal split structure of a PU and TU is determined to split the64×64 CU into four CUs of a 32×32 size and to generate the minimum ratedistortion value for each 32×32 CU.

3) The optimal split structure of a PU and TU is determined to furthersplit the 32×32 CU into four CUs of a 16×16 size and to generate theminimum rate distortion value for each 16×16 CU.

4) The optimal split structure of a PU and TU is determined to furthersplit the 16×16 CU into four CUs of a 8×8 size and to generate theminimum rate distortion value for each 8×8 CU.

5) The optimal split structure of a CU in the 16×16 block is determinedby comparing the rate-distortion value of the 16×16 CU obtained in theprocess 3) with the addition of the rate-distortion value of the four8×8 CUs obtained in the process 4). This process is also performed forremaining three 16×16 CUs in the same manner.

6) The optimal split structure of CU in the 32×32 block is determined bycomparing the rate-distortion value of the 32×32 CU obtained in theprocess 2) with the addition of the rate-distortion value of the four16×16 CUs that is obtained in the process 5). This process is alsoperformed for remaining three 32×32 CUs in the same manner.

7) Finally, the optimal split structure of CU in the 64×64 block isdetermined by comparing the rate-distortion value of the 64×64 CUobtained in the process 1) with the addition of the rate-distortionvalue of the four 32×32 CUs obtained in the process 6).

In the intra-prediction mode, a prediction mode is selected as a PUunit, and prediction and reconstruction are performed on the selectedprediction mode in an actual TU unit.

A TU means a basic unit in which actual prediction and reconstructionare performed. A TU includes a transform block (TB) for a luma componentand a TB for two chroma components corresponding to the luma component.

In the example of FIG. 3, as in an example in which one CTU is split inthe quad-tree structure to generate a CU, a TU is hierarchically splitfrom one CU to be coded in the quad-tree structure.

TUs split from a CU may be split into smaller and lower TUs because a TUis split in the quad-tree structure. In HEVC, the size of a TU may bedetermined to be as one of 32×32, 16×16, 8×8 and 4×4.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the root node of a quad-tree is assumed to berelated to a CU. The quad-tree is split until a leaf node is reached,and the leaf node corresponds to a TU.

This is described in more detail. A CU corresponds to a root node andhas the smallest depth (i.e., depth=0) value. A CU may not be splitdepending on the characteristics of an input image. In this case, the CUcorresponds to a TU.

A CU may be split in a quad-tree form. As a result, lower nodes having adepth 1 (depth=1) are generated. Furthermore, a node (i.e., leaf node)that belongs to the lower nodes having the depth of 1 and that is nolonger split corresponds to a TU. For example, in FIG. 3(b), a TU(a), aTU(b) and a TU(j) corresponding to the nodes a, b and j are once splitfrom a CU and have a depth of 1.

At least one of the nodes having the depth of 1 may be split in aquad-tree form again. As a result, lower nodes having a depth 2 (i.e.,depth=2) are generated. Furthermore, a node (i.e., leaf node) thatbelongs to the lower nodes having the depth of 2 and that is no longersplit corresponds to a TU. For example, in FIG. 3(b), a TU(c), a TU(h)and a TU(i) corresponding to the node c, h and I have been split twicefrom the CU and have the depth of 2.

Furthermore, at least one of the nodes having the depth of 2 may besplit in a quad-tree form again. As a result, lower nodes having a depth3 (i.e., depth=3) are generated. Furthermore, a node (i.e., leaf node)that belongs to the lower nodes having the depth of 3 and that is nolonger split corresponds to a CU. For example, in FIG. 3(b), a TU(d), aTU(e), a TU(f) and a TU(g) corresponding to the nodes d, e, f and g havebeen three times split from the CU and have the depth of 3.

A TU having a tree structure may be hierarchically split withpredetermined maximum depth information (or maximum level information).Furthermore, each spit TU may have depth information. The depthinformation may include information about the size of the TU because itindicates the split number and/or degree of the TU.

Information (e.g., a split TU flag “split_transform_flag”) indicatingwhether a corresponding TU has been split with respect to one TU may betransferred to the decoder. The split information is included in all ofTUs other than a TU of a minimum size. For example, if the value of theflag indicating whether a TU has been split is “1”, the corresponding TUis split into four TUs. If the value of the flag indicating whether a TUhas been split is “0”, the corresponding TU is no longer split.

Prediction

In order to reconfigure a current processing unit on which decoding isperformed, a decoded part of a current picture or other picturesincluding the current processing unit may be used.

A picture (slice) using only a current picture for reconstruction, thatis, on which only intra prediction is performed, may be called an intrapicture or I picture (slice). A picture (slice) using a maximum of onemotion vector and reference index in order to predict each unit may becalled a predictive picture or P picture (slice). A picture (slice)using a maximum of two motion vectors and reference indices may becalled a bi-predictive picture or B picture (slice).

Intra prediction means a prediction method of deriving a currentprocessing block from a data element (e.g., a sample value) of the samedecoded picture (or slice). That is, intra prediction means a method ofpredicting a pixel value of a current processing block with reference toreconstructed areas within a current picture.

Inter prediction means a prediction method of deriving a currentprocessing block based on a data element (e.g., a sample value or amotion vector) of a picture other than a current picture. That is, interprediction means a method of predicting a pixel value of a currentprocessing block with reference to reconstructed areas within anotherreconstructed picture other than a current picture.

Hereinafter, intra prediction is described more specifically.

Intra Prediction (or Prediction within Frame)

FIG. 5 is an embodiment to which the present invention is applied and isa diagram illustrating an intra prediction method.

Referring to FIG. 5, the decoder derives an intra prediction mode of acurrent processing block (S501).

Intra prediction may have a prediction direction for the position of areference sample used for prediction depending on a prediction mode. Anintra prediction mode having a prediction direction is referred to as anintra-angular prediction mode (Intra_Angular prediction mode). Incontrast, an intra prediction mode not having a prediction directionincludes an intra planar (INTRA_PLANAR) prediction mode and an intra DC(INTRA_DC) prediction mode.

Table 1 illustrates intra-prediction modes and associated names.

TABLE 1 INTRA- PREDICTION MODE ASSOCIATED NAMES 0 Intra-planar(INTRA_PLANAR) 1 Intra-DC (INTRA_DC) 2 . . . , 34 intra-angular 2 . . ., intra-angular 34 (INTRA_ANGULAR2 . . . , INTRA_ANGULAR34)

In intra-prediction, prediction is performed on a current processingblock based on a derived prediction mode. A reference sample used forprediction and a detailed prediction method are different depending on aprediction mode. If a current block is an intra-prediction mode, thedecoder derives the prediction mode of a current block in order toperform prediction.

The decoder checks whether neighboring samples of the current processingblock can be used for prediction and constructs reference samples to beused for the prediction (S502).

In intra-prediction, neighboring samples of the current processing blockmean a sample neighboring the left boundary of current processing blockof an nS×nS size, a total of 2×nS samples neighboring a bottom left ofthe current processing block, a sample neighboring the top boundary ofthe current processing block, a total of 2×nS samples neighboring thetop right of the current processing block, and one sample neighboringthe top left of the current processing block.

However, some of the neighboring samples of the current processing blockhave not yet been coded or may not be available. In this case, thedecoder may construct reference samples to be used for prediction bysubstituting unavailable samples with available samples.

The decoder may perform filtering on the reference samples based on theintra-prediction mode (S503).

Whether to perform the filtering of the reference samples may bedetermined based on the size of the current processing block.Furthermore, the filtering method of the reference samples may bedetermined based on a filtering flag transferred by the encoder.

The decoder generates a prediction block for the current processingblock based on the intra prediction mode and the reference samples(S504). That is, the decoder generates a prediction block for thecurrent processing block (i.e., generates a prediction sample within thecurrent processing block) based on the intra prediction mode derived inthe intra prediction mode derivation step (S501) and the referencesamples obtained in the reference sample configuration step (S502) andthe reference sample filtering step (S503).

If a current processing block has been encoded in the INTRA_DC mode, inorder to minimize the discontinuity of the boundary between processingblocks, a left boundary sample (i.e., a sample within a prediction blockneighboring a left boundary) and top boundary sample (i.e., a samplewithin a prediction block neighboring a top boundary) of the predictionblock may be filtered at step S504.

Furthermore, at step S504, with respect to the vertical mode andhorizontal mode of intra-angular prediction modes, as in the INTRA_DCmode, filtering may be applied to a left boundary sample or a topboundary sample.

More specifically, if a current processing block has been encoded in thevertical mode or horizontal mode, a value of a prediction sample may bederived based on a value of a reference sample positioned in theprediction direction. In this case, a boundary sample not positioned inthe prediction direction among a left boundary sample or top boundarysample of a prediction block may neighbor a reference sample not usedfor prediction. That is, the distance from a reference sample not usedfor prediction may be much closer than the distance from a referencesample used for prediction.

Accordingly, the decoder may adaptively apply filtering to left boundarysamples or top boundary samples depending on whether an intra predictiondirection is a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. That is,the decoder may apply filtering to left boundary samples if the intraprediction direction is a vertical direction, and may apply filtering totop boundary samples if the intra prediction direction is a horizontaldirection.

FIG. 6 illustrates prediction directions according to intra predictionmodes.

As described above, in HEVC, a prediction block of a current block isgenerated using a total of 35 prediction methods, including 33 angularprediction method and 2 non-angular prediction method for intraprediction.

In the case of the 33 angular prediction mode, when a prediction sampleis computed from reference samples, a reference sample value is copiedto a corresponding prediction sample by taking directivity intoconsideration.

In contrast, in each of a DC mode and a planar mode, that is, the 2non-angular prediction methods, a prediction sample is computed as anaverage value and weighting sum of neighboring reference samples.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment to which the present invention is applied and isa diagram for illustrating a quadtree binarytree (hereinafter referredto as a “QTBT”) block split structure.

Quad-Tree Binary-Tree (QTBT)

A QTBT refers to a structure of a coding block in which a quadtreestructure and a binarytree structure have been combined. Specifically,in a QTBT block split structure, an image is coded in a CTU unit. A CTUis split in a quadtree form. A leaf node of a quadtree is additionallysplit in a binarytree form.

Hereinafter, a QTBT structure and a split flag syntax supporting thesame are described with reference to FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, a current block may be split in a QTBT structure.That is, a CTU may be first hierarchically split in a quadtree form.Furthermore, a leaf node of the quadtree that is no longer spit in aquadtree form may be hierarchically split in a binarytree form.

The encoder may signal a split flag in order to determine whether tosplit a quadtree in a QTBT structure. In this case, the quadtree splitmay be adjusted (or limited) by a MinQTLumaISlice, MinQTChromaISlice orMinQTNonISlice value. In this case, MinQTLumaISlice indicates a minimumsize of a quadtree leaf node of a luma component in an I-slice.MinQTLumaChromaISlice indicates a minimum size of a quadtree leaf nodeof a chroma component in an I-slice. MinQTNonISlice indicates a minimumsize of a quadtree leaf node in a non-I-slice.

In the quadtree structure of a QTBT, a luma component and a chromacomponent may have independent split structures in an I-slice. Forexample, in the case of an I-slice in the QTBT structure, the splitstructures of a luma component and chroma component may be differentlydetermined. In order to support such a split structure, MinQTLumaISliceand MinQTChromaISlice may have different values.

For another example, in a non-I-slice of a QTBT, the split structures ofa luma component and chroma component in the quadtree structure may beidentically determined. For example, in the case of a non-I-slice, thequadtree split structures of a luma component and chroma component maybe adjusted by a MinQTNonISlice value.

In a QTBT structure, a leaf node of the quadtree may be split in abinarytree form. In this case, the binarytree split may be adjusted (orlimited) by MaxBTDepth, MaxBTDepthISliceL and MaxBTDepthISliceC. In thiscase, MaxBTDepth indicates a maximum depth of the binarytree split basedon a leaf node of the quadtree in a non-I-slice. MaxBTDepthISliceLindicates a maximum depth of the binarytree split of a luma component inan I-slice. MaxBTDepthISliceC indicates a maximum depth of thebinarytree split of a chroma component in the I-slice.

Furthermore, in the I-slice of a QTBT, MaxBTDepthISliceL andMaxBTDepthISliceC may have different values in the I-slice because aluma component and a chroma component may have different structures.

In the case of the split structure of a QTBT, the quadtree structure andthe binarytree structure may be used together. In this case, thefollowing rule may be applied.

First, MaxBTSize is smaller than or equal to MaxQTSize. In this case,MaxBTSize indicates a maximum size of a binarytree split, and MaxQTSizeindicates a maximum size of the quadtree split.

Second, a leaf node of a QT becomes the root of a BT.

Third, once a split into a BT is performed, it cannot be split into a QTagain.

Fourth, a BT defines a vertical split and a horizontal split.

Fifth, MaxQTDepth, MaxBTDepth are previously defined. In this case,MaxQTDepth indicates a maximum depth of a quadtree split, and MaxBTDepthindicates a maximum depth of a binarytree split.

Sixth, MaxBTSize, MinQTSize may be different depending on a slice type.

FIG. 8 shows a current processing block and reference samples forgenerating a prediction block of the current processing block when thecurrent processing block is a square block according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the QTBT split structure, a current processingblock (coding block) may correspond to a square block or a non-squareblock. The square block is a square block having the same width lengthand height length. The non-square block is a rectangular block having adifferent width length and height length. Hereinafter, a case where acurrent processing block is a square block is first described.

In FIG. 8, a current processing block (hereinafter referred to as acurrent block, for convenience sake) 8010 is a square block having anN×N size. For example, in the block shown in FIG. 8, N corresponds to 4.

Referenceable reference samples 8020 when intra prediction is performedinclude neighboring samples of the current block 8010. Referring to FIG.8, when the size of the current block 8010 is N×N, the reference samples8020 may include 2N samples at the top of the current block 8010, 2Nsamples on the left of the current block 8010, and 1 sample on the topleft of the current block 8010. That is, the reference samples 8020 mayinclude a maximum of 4N+1 samples. In some cases, if all of theperipheral reference samples 8020 are not present, all the referencesamples 8020 may be filled with a middle value of a pixel value rangethat may be represented. Furthermore, if only some of the peripheralreference samples 8020 are available, padding for substituting anunavailable sample with an available sample may be performed.

In intra prediction, the reference sample 8020 corresponds to areconstructed sample because it is reconstructed after quantization isperformed on the reference sample. Accordingly, the reference sample8020 includes a quantization error. In order to reduce a predictionerror attributable to a quantization error, reference sample filtering(or intra smoothing) may be performed. The reference sample filteringcan prevent a potential visual artifact of a prediction block to bederived due to a difference between samples. To this end, a low passfilter may be used.

Whether filtering will be performed on the reference sample 8020 isfirst determined before prediction is performed based on the size of thecurrent block 8010, a prediction mode and a pixel value. Table 2 belowshows whether to perform (apply) filtering according to the sizes of thecurrent block 8010 (or prediction block) and intra prediction modes inthe encoder/decoder. Table 2 below may be previously defined in theencoder/decoder.

TABLE 2 4 × 4 8 × 8 16 × 16 32 × 32 0 X X O O 1 X X X X 2 X O O O 3 X XO O 4 X X O O 5 X X O O 6 X X O O 7 X X O O 8 X X O O 9 X X X O 10 X X XX 11 X X X O 12 X X O O 13 X X O O 14 X X O O 15 X X O O 16 X X O O 17 XX O O 18 X O O O 19 X X O O 20 X X O O 21 X X O O 22 X X O O 23 X X O O24 X X O O 25 X X X O 26 X X X X 27 X X X O 28 X X O O 29 X X O O 30 X XO O 31 X X O O 32 X X O O 33 X X O O 34 X O O O

In Table 2, numbers 0 to 34 in a vertical axis indicate intra predictionmodes, and 4×4, 8×8, 16×16 and 32×32 in a horizontal axis indicate thesize of the current block 8010.

Referring to Table 2, in a DC mode (mode 1), a horizontal mode (mode 10)and a vertical mode (mode 26), filtering is not always performedregardless of the size of the current block 8010. In the case of the DCmode, the reference sample 8020 is not filtered in order to prevent thedistortion of a value of the reference sample attributable to filtering.

In a block (e.g., 4×4 or 8×8) having a small size, filtering isperformed only in very limited prediction modes. As the size of a blockincreases, a restriction on filtering is reduced. If the size of a blockis sufficiently large (e.g., 32×32), filtering may be performed in allmodes other than the DC mode, the horizontal mode (mode 10) and thevertical mode (mode 26). Furthermore, a filter type may be determinedbased on the size of a prediction block, a prediction mode and a valueof the reference sample 8020.

A prediction block of the current block 8010 is generated using thereference samples 8020 of the current block 8010. Thereafter, thedecoder reconstructs the current block 8010 by combining the predictionblock and a received residual signal.

FIG. 9 shows a current processing block and reference samples forgenerating a prediction block of the current processing block when thecurrent processing block is a non-square block according to anembodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 9, a current block is a non-square block 9010. As described inthe description regarding FIGS. 7 and 8, in a QTBT split structure, acurrent processing block may correspond to a non-square block. Forexample, the non-square block 9010 may have a 2N×N or 2N×hN (h=half)size. Furthermore, as described in the description regarding FIG. 8, ina square block, whether filtering will be performed on a referencesample is determined according to Table 2 based on the size of a currentblock (i.e., the length of one side N). However, the non-square block9010 is different in the width length and height length of the block.Accordingly, in the case of the non-square block 9010, whether toperform filtering according to Table 2 based on the length of which sideis ambiguous because the lengths of both sides are different unlike in asquare block.

First, a reference sample of the non-square block 9010 is described. Thereference sample includes a top (upper) reference sample 9020 and a leftreference sample 9030. The top reference sample 9020 may also be calledan upper boundary sample, and the left reference sample 9030 may also becalled a left boundary sample.

The top reference sample 9020 is a reference sample neighboring the topof the current block. The top reference sample 9020 includes samplespositioned on the upper (top) and upper-right side of the top horizontaledge (i.e., upper horizontal side) of the current block. For example,when the location of a top-left sample 9040 is [X][Y]=[−1][−1], the topreference samples 9020 have a location of [X][−1]. That is, the topreference samples 9020 neighbor to the upper side of the current blockand the reference samples are arranged horizontally.

The left reference sample 9030 is a reference sample neighboring theleft of the current block. The left reference sample 9030 includessamples positioned on the left and bottom left of the left vertical edge(i.e., left vertical side) of the current block. For example, when thelocation of the top-left sample 9040 is [X][Y]=[−1][−1], the leftreference sample 9030 has a location of [−1][y]. That is, the leftreference samples 9030 neighbor the left of the current block, and thereference samples are arranged vertically.

The length of the top reference sample 9020 and the left referencesample 9030 may be determined as a proper length based on the currentblock and a peripheral block. For example, when the current block has a2N×N size, a maximum length of the top/left reference sample may have alength of 4N, that is, twice the length of a side. Furthermore, the topreference sample 9020 and the left reference sample 9030 may havedifferent lengths.

In this case, the top-left sample 9040 may be included in one of the topreference sample 9020 or the left reference sample 9030 and processed.For example, FIG. 9 shows that the top-left sample 9040 is included inthe left reference sample 9030. The top-left sample 9040 may be includedin the top reference sample 9020 and processed.

Referring to the description related to FIG. 5, a prediction block isgenerated using a reference sample. Intra prediction for reconstructsvideo using the generated prediction block may be performed by the intraprediction unit. Specifically, the intra prediction unit may obtain anintra prediction mode of a current block (refer to S501), and may obtaina reference sample for generating a prediction block of the currentblock using a neighboring sample of the current block (refer to S502).Thereafter, the intra prediction unit may determine whether to performfiltering on the reference sample. When the filtering is determined tobe performed, the intra prediction unit may filter the reference sample(refer to S503). Thereafter, the intra prediction unit may generate aprediction block a not-filtered reference sample or the filteredreference sample (refer to S504).

A criterion for determining whether to perform reference samplefiltering of the non-square block 9010 and a filter type is describedbelow. A filtering procedure may be performed in the same manner as theexisting HEVC filtering method in addition to a method of determiningwhether to perform filtering/filter type. In the decoder (video decodingapparatus), an intra prediction mode may be transmitted by the encoderas a factor.

In the following embodiments, in a process of determining whether toperform filtering and determining a filter type by the intra predictionunit, a current block parameter and/or a peripheral block parameter isused along with an intra prediction mode. The current block parameter isa parameter related to a current block. The peripheral block parameteris a parameter related to peripheral blocks of a current block.

The current block parameter includes (i) the length of a side(horizontal edge or vertical edge) of a current block, (ii) the numberof samples (pixels) of a current block, (iii) the quantization rate (QP)of a current block and/or (iv) distance information between a predictionsample and a reference sample.

The peripheral block parameter includes (i) the quantization rate (QP)of a peripheral block, (ii) peripheral block-related information of aresidual coefficient, (iii) boundary/edge-related information of aperipheral block, and/or (iv) split information of a peripheral block.

Whether to perform filtering on a reference sample of the non-squareblock 9010 and/or a filter type may be determined using the followingembodiments.

Embodiment 1: Use Length of Side of Current Block

In Embodiment 1, the intra prediction unit uses a current blockparameter in a process of determining whether to perform filteringand/or a filter type. The current block parameter includes the length ofa side of a current block. Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, a separatetable is not defined in the process of determining whether to performfiltering, and Table 2 corresponding to a table related to a squareblock is used.

The current block parameter may include the horizontal side length(i.e., the length of a horizontal edge) and/or vertical side length(i.e., the length of a vertical edge) of a current block. That is, theintra prediction unit may determine whether to perform reference samplefiltering based on a longer side (i.e., the length of an edge having agreater value) or a smaller side (i.e., the length of an edge having asmaller value) among the lengths of sides of a current block. The lengthof a side of a current block corresponds to the number of samples(picture elements or pixels) included in one side of the current block.

As a first method using a side length, the intra prediction unit maydetermine whether to perform filtering based on a longer length amongthe lengths of a horizontal side and a vertical side. For example, whenthe length of a horizontal side is 8, the length of a vertical side is16, and a prediction mode is 14, whether to perform filtering isdetermined based on the same criterion as that of the case of the 16×16block of Table 2 because a longer length is 16. That is, according toTable 2, filtering is performed on reference samples of the 8×16 blockbecause reference sample filtering is performed in the prediction mode14 with respect to the 16×16 block. For another example, when the lengthof a horizontal side is 32, the length of a vertical side is 8, and anprediction mode is 10, filtering is not performed on reference samplesof the 32×8 block based on the 32×32 block of Table 2. If filtering isdetermined to be performed, a 1-dimensional binomial filter may be usedas a smoothing filter. The 1-dimensional binomial filter may include a1-2-1 filter or a 1-4-6-4-1 filter.

Referring to Table 2, the possibility that filtering will be performedincreases as the size of a prediction block increases. Accordingly, ifwhether to perform filtering is determined based on the length of alarge side, a reference sample may be further smoothed according to therule that permits smoothing as the size of a block increases.Furthermore, if a current block is a noisy block and artifacts are mixedwith a prediction sample, error propagation may be reduced.

As a second method using a side length, the intra prediction unit maydetermine whether to perform filtering based on a shorter length of thelengths of a horizontal side and a vertical side. For example, when thelength of a horizontal side is 8, the length of a vertical side is 16,and a prediction mode is 14, whether to perform filtering is determinedbased on the same criterion as that of the 8×8 block of Table 2 becausea shorter length is 8. That is, according to Table 2, filtering is notperformed on reference samples of the 8×16 block because referencesample filtering is not performed in all the prediction modes withrespect to the 8×8 block. For another example, when the length of ahorizontal side is 32, the length of a vertical side is 8, and aprediction mode is 2, filtering is performed on reference samples of the32×8 block according to the 8×8 block of Table 2. If the filtering isdetermined to be performed, a 1-dimensional binomial filter may be usedas a smoothing filter. The 1-dimensional binomial filter may include a1-2-1 filter or a 1-4-6-4-1 filter.

Referring to Table 2, the possibility that filtering will be performeddecreases as the size of a prediction block decreases. Accordingly, ifwhether to apply filtering is determined based on a small side, asmoothing effect may be blocked according to the rule that theapplication of filtering is limited as the size of a block is smaller.Furthermore, if a complicated characteristic of a reference sample needsto be applied to a prediction block without any change, a more accurateprediction sample can be generated by lowering the filteringpossibility.

In Embodiment 1, a separate table is not defined, and Table 2 related toa square block is used in the process of determining whether to performfiltering. If a separate table for whether to perform reference samplefiltering of the non-square block 9010 is defined, additional memory isconsumed in order to store the table.

Embodiment 1 can reduce memory of the encoder and the decoder because aseparate additional table for the non-square block 9010 is not definedand a table for a square block is used in the process of determiningwhether to perform reference sample filtering of the non-square block9010.

Embodiment 2: Use Number of Samples of Current Block

In Embodiment 2, the intra prediction unit uses a current blockparameter in a process of determining whether to perform filteringand/or a filter type. The current block parameter includes the number ofsamples (pixels) of a current block. In Embodiment 2, as in Embodiment1, Table 2 is used in the process of determining whether to performfiltering.

If a square block having the same number of samples as the number ofsamples included in a current block is present, whether to performfiltering is determined by applying the same criterion as that of thesquare block.

If a square block having the same number of samples as a current blockis not present, whether to perform filtering is determined based on ablock having the greatest size among square blocks having the number ofsamples smaller than the number of samples of the current block. Thatis, this is described according to a different method. If a square blockhaving the same number of samples as a current block is not present,whether to perform filtering is determined based on the length of asmaller side of a current block (i.e., the same criterion as a squareblock corresponding to the length of the smaller side).

For example, when the length of an upper side of a current block is 8and the length of a left side thereof is 32 (i.e., the current block isa 8×32 block), the number of samples included in the current block isthe same as the number of samples included in a 16×16 block.Accordingly, in this case, the same criterion as that of the 16×16 blockis applied to the current block. If a prediction mode is mode 14,reference sample filtering is performed on a 32×8 block, that is, thecurrent block, because reference sample filtering is performed on the16×16 block according to Table 2.

For another example, when the length of an upper side of a current blockis 16 and the length of a left side thereof is 8 (i.e., the currentblock is a 16×8 block), a square block having the same number of samplesas the current block is not present. The number of pixels of the 16×8block is smaller than that of the 16×16 block and is larger than that ofthe 8×8 block. Accordingly, in this case, whether to perform referencesample filtering of the current block is determined based on thecriterion of the 8×8 block. Referring to Table 2, when a prediction modeis 14, filtering is not performed on the reference samples of the 8×8block. Accordingly, the reference sample filtering of the current block(16×8 block) is not performed.

If the filtering is determined to be performed, a 1-dimensional binomialfilter may be used as a smoothing filter. The 1-dimensional binomialfilter may include a 1-2-1 filter or a 1-4-6-4-1 filter.

Embodiment 3: Use Quantization Parameter of Current Block/PeripheralBlock

In Embodiment 3, the intra prediction unit uses a parameter of a currentblock or a peripheral block in a process of determining whether toperform filtering and/or a filter type. The current/peripheral blockparameter includes the quantization parameter of a current/peripheralblock.

In quantization, input values of a specific range are mapped as a singlerepresentative value with respect to input data. For example, in theencoder, a residual block of a current block is transformed into asignal of a frequency region. Accordingly, a transform block can beobtained and the coefficient of a transform block (transformcoefficient) can be quantized.

A quantization parameter (QP) is related to the quantization rate(QP_step) of a coding block. The quantization rate may be represented asa quantization range. As the quantization rate increases, the number ofrepresentative values that represents data is reduced. A datacompression rate can be adjusted by changing the quantization rate.Since the quantization rate is a real number value, a quantizationparameter, that is, an integer value, may be used instead of thequantization rate, for convenience of calculation. For example, thequantization parameter may have an integer value from 0 to 51, and thetransform coefficient of a current block or a peripheral block may bequantized based on the integer value. The quantization parameter of eachcoding block may be transmitted from the encoder to the decoder. Thatis, the decoder may parse the quantization parameter of each codingblock.

In Embodiment 3, whether to perform filtering on reference samples of acurrent block is determined based on the quantization parameter of thecurrent block (hereinafter the QP of a current block) or thequantization parameter of a peripheral block (hereinafter the QP of aperipheral block). The QP includes both the QP of a current block andthe QP of a peripheral block unless described otherwise hereinafter. Thefollowing method may be applied to both the QP of a current block andthe QP of a peripheral block.

Specifically, when the QP of a current block or a peripheral block isgreater than (or greater than or equal to) a threshold (QP threshold),the intra prediction unit may determine to perform reference samplefiltering of the current block. Furthermore, if the intra predictionunit determines to perform the filtering, it may apply a strongsmoothing filter, that is, a filter having strong filtering intensity.

If the QP of a current block or a peripheral block is smaller than (orsmaller than or equal to) a threshold, the intra prediction unit maydetermine to not perform reference sample filtering of the currentblock. However, the intra prediction unit may determine to performreference sample filtering when the QP is smaller than the threshold. Inthis case, the intra prediction unit may apply a weak smoothing filter,that is, a filter having weak filtering intensity.

A 1-dimensional binomial filter may be used as the weak smoothingfilter. The 1-dimensional binomial filter may include a 1-2-1 filter ora 1-4-6-4-1 filter. An average filter or another type oflinear/non-linear-weighting filters may be used as the strong smoothingfilter.

A QP threshold may be determined as a value previously agreed betweenthe encoder and the decoder. Furthermore, the threshold may be includedin a VPS, SPS, PPS, slice header or block header and transmitted to theencoder. The decoder may determine whether to perform reference samplefiltering and a filter type based on the received threshold.

A detailed characteristic of an image is better preserved because thenumber of representative values to represent data is increased as the QPis smaller. Accordingly, the accuracy of a prediction block can beimproved by applying weak filtering to a fine or minute (i.e., a greatchange in the sample value within a block) image. Furthermore, manyerrors, such as a blocky artifact, occur because the number ofrepresentative values is reduced as the QP increases. Accordingly, inthis case, the accuracy of a prediction block can be improved byapplying strong filtering.

Embodiment 4: Use Residual Coefficient-Related Information of PeripheralBlock

In Embodiment 4, a peripheral block parameter is used in a process ofdetermining whether to perform filtering and/or a filter type. Theperipheral block parameter includes residual coefficient-relatedinformation of a peripheral block. The residual coefficient-relatedinformation includes the number of residual coefficients of a peripheralblock and/or a flag (coded block flag, Cbf) indicating whether aresidual coefficient is present in a peripheral block.

Reference samples are configured with samples peripheral to a currentblock, which have already been decoded through encoding. Accordingly,each of peripheral blocks including a reconstructed reference sampleincludes a Cbf and a residual coefficient. Information of the Cbf andthe residual coefficient is transmitted from the encoder to the decoder.

The residual coefficient indicates the coefficient of a transform blockthat has been quantized after a residual block is transformed into afrequency region. The residual block is a block obtained by subtractinga prediction block from the original coding block in the encoder. TheCbf is a flag indicating whether a residual coefficient is present in aperipheral block. That is, the Cbf indicates whether one or morecoefficients (i.e., residual coefficients) are present in a block afterthe transform block of a peripheral block was quantized. For example,when the Cbf is 1, this may mean that a residual coefficient is present.

The intra prediction unit may determine to perform reference samplefiltering when the Cbf of a peripheral block indicates that a residualcoefficient is present, and may determine to not perform filtering whenthe Cbf of a peripheral block indicates that a residual coefficient isnot present. That is, if a residual coefficient is present, this meansthat a reference sample used for prediction is complicated or mayinclude noise. Accordingly, in this case, reference sample filtering maybe performed in order to improve prediction accuracy. If the referencesample filtering is determined to be performed, strong filtering (strongsmoothing filter) may be applied.

When the number of residual coefficients is greater than (or greaterthan or equal to) a threshold, the intra prediction unit may determineto not perform reference sample filtering. The reason for this is thatif the number of residual coefficients is many, this indicates that thecomplexity of an image is great. In this case, strong filtering may beapplied. Furthermore, when the number of residual coefficients issmaller than (or smaller than or equal to) a threshold, the intraprediction unit may determine to not perform filtering or may determineto apply filtering, but apply weak filtering (weak smoothing filter).

A 1-dimensional binomial filter may be used as the weak smoothingfilter. The 1-dimensional binomial filter may include a 1-2-1 filter ora 1-4-6-4-1 filter. An average filter or another type oflinear/non-linear-weighting filter may be used as the strong smoothingfilter.

The threshold of the number of residual coefficients may be determinedas a value previously agreed between the encoder and the decoder.Furthermore, the threshold may be included in a VPS, SPS, PPS, sliceheader or block header and transmitted from the encoder to the decoder.The decoder may determine whether to perform reference sample filteringand a filter type based on the received threshold.

If the residual of a peripheral block is reduced (i.e., the number ofresidual coefficients is reduced), this indicates that the homogeneityof a prediction block of the peripheral block and the original block ishigh. In this case, the intra prediction unit may generate a relativelyaccurate prediction block (predicted value) although it uses only a weaksmoothing filter. However, as the residual of a peripheral blockincreases (i.e., the number of residual coefficients increases), animage of the peripheral block may be a detailed image or may includemany errors, such as noise or artifacts. Accordingly, the intraprediction unit can improve the accuracy of a prediction block using astrong smoothing filter.

Embodiment 5: Use Boundary/Edge-Related Information of Peripheral Block

In Embodiment 5, a peripheral block parameter is used in a process ofdetermining whether to perform filtering and/or a filter type. Theperipheral block parameter indicates information related to the boundaryor edge of a peripheral block.

A reference sample includes a plurality of samples. The plurality ofsamples belongs to different peripheral samples neighboring a currentblock. The boundary-related information includes a parameter(hereinafter referred to as a boundary parameter or edge parameter)indicating whether the boundary or edge of a peripheral block isincluded in a reference sample or the number of different peripheralsamples (hereinafter a boundary sample number) including a blockboundary within a reference sample.

The intra prediction unit may determine whether to perform referencesample filtering and/or a filter type based on an edge parameter. Theedge parameter indicates whether the boundary of a peripheral block isincluded in a reference sample. That is, specifically, the edgeparameter indicates whether at least one of the top reference sample9020 or the left reference sample 9030 is configured with samplesbelonging to different peripheral samples. For example, when the edgeparameter is 1, it may indicate that the boundary of a peripheral blockis included in a reference sample.

When an edge parameter indicates that at least one of the top referencesample 9020 or the left reference sample 9030 is configured with samplesbelonging to different peripheral samples, the intra prediction unit maydetermine to perform reference sample filtering. In this case, a strongsmoothing filter may be used. If not, the intra prediction unit does notperform reference sample filtering or performs reference samplefiltering, but may determine to use a weak smoothing filter.

Furthermore, when a boundary sample number is greater than (or greaterthan or equal to) a threshold, the intra prediction unit may determineto perform reference sample filtering based on the boundary samplenumber. If not, the intra prediction unit does not perform referencesample filtering and performs reference sample filtering, but maydetermine to use a weak smoothing filter.

The threshold of a boundary sample number may be determined as a valuepreviously agreed between the encoder and the decoder. The threshold maybe included in a VPS, SPS, PPS, slice header or block header andtransmitted from the encoder to the decoder. The decoder may determinewhether to perform reference sample filtering and a filter type based onthe received threshold.

A 1-dimensional binomial filter may be used as the weak smoothingfilter. The 1-dimensional binomial filter may include a 1-2-1 filter ora 1-4-6-4-1 filter. An average filter or another type oflinear/non-linear-weighting filter may be used as the strong smoothingfilter.

As the size of peripheral blocks of a current block is reduced, thenumber of boundaries of the peripheral blocks included in a referencesample is increased. As the number of block boundaries increases, theprobability that an error, such as artifacts, may occur increases.Accordingly, when the boundary of a peripheral block is included in areference sample or the number of peripheral blocks including a boundaryis greater than a threshold, the intra prediction unit can improve theaccuracy of a prediction block by filtering the reference sample using astrong smoothing filter.

Embodiment 6: Use Distance Information Between Prediction Sample ofCurrent Block and Reference Sample

In Embodiment 6, a current block parameter is used in a process ofdetermining whether to perform filtering and/or a filter type. Thecurrent block parameter includes distance information between aprediction sample and a reference sample. Specifically, the distanceinformation includes a vertical distance between a current sample to bepredicted within a prediction block (hereinafter a prediction sample)and the top reference sample 9020 (hereinafter a vertical distance)and/or a horizontal distance between the prediction sample and the leftreference sample 9030 (hereinafter a horizontal distance).

The intra prediction unit may adaptively determine whether to performreference sample filtering and/or a filter type based on the location ofa prediction sample within a current block. For example, when the lengthof one side of a current block is N, the intra prediction unit maydetermine to perform reference sample filtering in a process ofgenerating a predicted value of a prediction sample when at least anyone of the x coordinates or y coordinates of the prediction sample isgreater than N/2. In this case, the intra prediction unit may use astrong smoothing filter.

That is, the intra prediction unit may determine whether to performreference sample filtering for each prediction sample. The intraprediction unit may determine to perform reference sample filtering in aprocess of generating a predicted value of a corresponding predictionsample when at least one of the horizontal distance or vertical distanceof each prediction sample is greater than a threshold (or thresholddistance). In this case, the intra prediction unit may use a strongsmoothing filter. If not, the intra prediction unit does not performreference sample filtering in a process of generating a predicted valueof a corresponding prediction sample or determines to perform filtering,but may use a weak smoothing filter.

The threshold of each of the vertical distance and/or the horizontaldistance may be determined as a value previously agreed between theencoder and the decoder. The threshold may be included in a VPS, SPS,PPS, slice header or block header and transmitted from the encoder tothe decoder. The decoder may determine whether to perform referencesample filtering and a filter type based on the received threshold.

A 1-dimensional binomial filter may be used as the weak smoothingfilter. The 1-dimensional binomial filter may include a 1-2-1 filter ora 1-4-6-4-1 filter. An average filter or another type oflinear/non-linear-weighting filter may be used as the strong smoothingfilter.

The accuracy of prediction decreases as the distance between aprediction sample and a reference sample increases. Furthermore, as thedistance increases, the possibility that unnecessary information, suchas noise, will be propagated increases. Accordingly, the accuracy ofprediction can be improved using a strong smoothing filter for aprediction sample having a great distance from a reference sample.

Embodiment 7: Use a Combination of Embodiments 1 to 6

Whether to perform reference sample filtering and/or a filter type maybe determined by combining one or more of the criteria of Embodiment 1to Embodiment 6.

For example, a new criterion in which the length of a long side of acurrent block (embodiment 1) and peripheral block boundary information(embodiment 5) are combined may be defined. For another example, a newcriterion in which the length of a small side of a current block(embodiment 1), the number of samples of a current block (embodiment 2),and the quantization parameter of a current/peripheral block (embodiment3) are combined may be defined. Prediction accuracy can be furtherimproved by combining the above-described embodiments.

Embodiment 8: Determine Whether to Independently Filter Top ReferenceSample and Left Reference Sample and/or Filter Type

Embodiment 8 is based on Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 8, the intraprediction unit determines whether to perform filtering on the topreference sample 9020 and the left reference sample 9030 and/or a filtertype based on the length of each side of a current block. Table 2 isalso used in Embodiment 8.

Specifically, referring back to FIG. 9, whether to perform filtering onthe top reference sample 9020 and/or a filtering type is determinedbased on a horizontal edge length (horizontal side length) of a currentblock. Whether to perform filtering on the left reference sample 9030and/or a filtering type is determined based on a vertical edge length(vertical side length). That is, a criterion according to the length ofa left side (or vertical side) is applied to the left reference sample9030. A criterion according to the length of a top side (or horizontalside) is applied to the top reference sample 9020. As shown in FIG. 9,as a result, reference sample filtering may be applied to the leftreference sample 9030, and reference sample filtering may not be appliedto the top reference sample 9020. Accordingly, the two reference samplescan be independently filtered.

For example, when a vertical side length is 16 and a prediction mode is8, filtering may be determined to be performed on the left referencesample 9030 according to the 16×16 block of Table 2. If the length of ahorizontal side is 8 and a prediction mode is 8, filtering may bedetermined to be not performed on the top reference sample 9020according to the 8×8 block of Table 2.

As in Embodiment 1, the top-left sample 9040 may be included in any oneof the left reference sample 9030 and the top reference sample 9020.FIG. 9 shows that the top-left sample is included in the left referencesample 9030 and processed.

The contents described in Embodiment 1 may be identically applied tocontents (filter type, etc.) in addition to determining whether to applyfiltering to the left reference sample 9030 and the top reference sample9020 separately. For example, a strong smoothing filter (an averagefilter or another type of linear/non-linear-weighting filter) may beapplied to the left reference sample 9030.

Embodiment 9: First Determine Whether Reference to Reference Sample isPossible

In Embodiment 9, prior to Embodiments 1 to 8, whether reference to eachreference sample is possible (whether each reference sample can be usedto generate a prediction block) is first determined. The presentembodiment may be applied to a process of obtaining/generating areference sample prior to reference sample filtering.

An intra prediction (intra mode) method may not use a reference samplein a process of generating a prediction block in some cases. Forexample, a case where a reference sample cannot be used includes a casewhere a current block is positioned at the edge of an image or a casewhere a neighbor block has been decoded in an inter-frame predictionmode (inter mode) (this is limited to some cases).

Accordingly, in Embodiment 9, the intra prediction unit first determineswhether reference to each of the top reference sample 9020 and the leftreference sample 9030 is possible.

Specifically, 1) the intra prediction unit determines whether to performreference sample filtering based on the length of a left side (verticalside) if reference to only the left reference sample 9030, among theleft reference sample 9030 and the top reference sample 9020, ispossible, and determines whether to perform reference sample filteringbased on the length of a top side (horizontal side) if reference to onlythe top reference sample 9020 is possible. In this case, whether toperform filtering is determined based on the length of the left side orupper side which is referenceable, but the application of filteringafter the filtering is determined to be performed is applied to both theleft reference sample 9030 and the top reference sample 9020. For adetailed method of determining whether to apply filtering based on thelength of a side, reference is made to the description of Embodiment 7or Embodiment 1.

2) If reference to both the left reference sample and the top referencesample is possible or reference to both the left reference sample andthe top reference sample is impossible, the intra prediction unit maydetermine whether to perform reference sample filtering and/or a filtertype according to the criteria of Embodiments 1 to 8. Furthermore, foranother example, if reference to both the left/top reference sample 9020is impossible, the intra prediction unit may fill all the referencesamples with a default value (1<<(bitDepth-1)) and use them to generatea prediction block. For example, the reference samples may be filledwith a 128 value in the case of an 8-bit image and may be filled with a512 value in the case of a 10-bit image.

All the methods of Embodiments 1 to 9 may be performed in the intraprediction unit of the encoder or the decoder.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the intra prediction unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The intra prediction unit 10010 generates the prediction block of acurrent block based on an intra prediction mode. The intra predictionunit 10010 is included in the encoder (video coding apparatus) and/orthe decoder (video decoding apparatus).

The intra prediction unit 10010 includes an intra prediction modeacquisition unit 10020, a reference sample acquisition unit 10030, areference sample filtering unit 10040 and a prediction block generationunit 10050.

The intra prediction mode acquisition unit 10020 obtains an intraprediction mode of a current block. The intra prediction modeacquisition unit 10020 may perform the S501 procedure of FIG. 5.

After an intra prediction mode is obtained, the reference sampleacquisition unit 10030 obtains a reference sample for generating aprediction block. The reference sample acquisition unit 10030 mayperform the S502 procedure of FIG. 5.

After a reference sample is obtained, the reference sample filteringunit 10040 determines whether to perform filtering on the referencesample. If the filtering is determined to be performed, the referencesample filtering unit 10040 filters the reference sample. If filteringis determined to be not performed on the reference sample, the referencesample filtering unit 10040 does not filter the reference sample.

A current block processed in the intra prediction unit 10010 maycorrespond to a square block or a non-square block. If a current blockis a non-square block, the reference sample filtering unit 10040determines whether to perform filtering based on a current blockparameter and/or a peripheral block parameter along with an intraprediction mode. For detailed contents regarding the current blockparameter and the peripheral block parameter, reference is made to thedescription related to FIG. 9. That is, if a current block is anon-square block, the reference sample filtering unit 10040 maydetermine whether to perform reference sample filtering and/or a filtertype according to the criteria of Embodiments 1 to 8.

The prediction block generation unit 10050 generates the predictionblock of a current block using a reference sample that has not beenfiltered or a filtered reference sample. The prediction block generationunit 10050 may perform the S504 procedure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a video decoding method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Video decoding is performed by the video decoding apparatus (decoder).

The video decoding apparatus obtains an intra prediction mode of acurrent block (S11010). The procedure may be performed identically withor similar to the S501 procedure of FIG. 5, and thus a detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

The video decoding apparatus obtains a reference sample for generatingthe prediction block of the current block using a neighboring sample ofthe current block (S11020). This procedure may be performed identicallywith or similar to the S502 procedure of FIG. 5, and a detaileddescription thereof is omitted. Furthermore, in this step, the method ofEmbodiment 9 of FIG. 9 may be performed.

Thereafter, the video decoding apparatus determines whether to performfiltering on the reference sample (S11030), and filters the referencesample when the filtering is determined to be performed (S11040).

In the step of determining whether to perform filtering (S11030), thevideo decoding apparatus determines whether to perform filtering basedon a current block parameter, that is, a parameter related to thecurrent block, and/or a peripheral block parameter, that is, a parameterrelated to a peripheral block of the current block, along with an intraprediction mode. For detailed contents regarding the current blockparameter and the peripheral block parameter, reference is made to thedescription related to FIG. 9.

Thereafter, the video decoding apparatus generates a prediction blockusing the reference sample or the filtered reference sample based on theintra prediction mode (S11050). This procedure may be performedidentically with or similar to the S504 procedure of FIG. 5, and thus adetailed description thereof is omitted.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the elements and characteristics ofthe present invention have been combined in specific forms. Each of theelements or characteristics may be considered to be optional unlessotherwise described explicitly.

Each of the elements or characteristics may be implemented in a form tobe not combined with other elements or characteristics. Furthermore,some of the elements and/or the characteristics may be combined to forman embodiment of the present invention. Order of the operationsdescribed in the embodiments of the present invention may be changed.Some of the elements or characteristics of an embodiment may be includedin another embodiment or may be replaced with corresponding elements orcharacteristics of another embodiment. It is evident that an embodimentmay be constructed by combining claims not having an explicit citationrelation in the claims or may be included as a new claim by amendmentsafter filing an application.

The embodiment according to the present invention may be implemented byvarious means, for example, hardware, firmware, software or acombination of them. In the case of an implementation by hardware, theembodiment of the present invention may be implemented using one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors,etc.

In the case of an implementation by firmware or software, the embodimentof the present invention may be implemented in the form of a module,procedure or function for performing the aforementioned functions oroperations. Software code may be stored in the memory and driven by theprocessor. The memory may be located inside or outside the processor andmay exchange data with the processor through a variety of known means.

It is evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe materialized in other specific forms without departing from theessential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, thedetailed description should not be construed as being limitative, butshould be construed as being illustrative from all aspects. The scope ofthe present invention should be determined by reasonable analysis of theattached claims, and all changes within the equivalent range of thepresent invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The aforementioned preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the artmay improve, change, substitute, or add various other embodimentswithout departing from the technological spirit and scope of the presentinvention disclosed in the attached claims.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A video decoding method, comprising: obtaining anintra prediction mode of a current block; obtaining a reference samplefor intra prediction using a neighboring sample of the current block;determining whether to perform filtering on the reference sample;filtering the reference sample when the filtering is determined to beperformed; and generating a prediction block of the current block usingthe reference sample or the filtered reference sample based on the intraprediction mode, wherein whether to perform the filtering is determinedbased on at least one of an intra prediction mode, a number of pixels ofthe current block, a length of a left side or a top side of the currentblock, and a neighboring block parameter related to a neighboring blockof the current block.
 15. The video decoding method of claim 14, whereinwhether to perform the filtering is determined based on a length of aside having a greater value or a length of a side having a smaller valueamong the left side and the top side.
 16. The video decoding method ofclaim 15, wherein the step of determining whether to perform filteringcomprises: determining whether to perform filtering on the top referencesample based on the length of the top side and determining whether toperform filtering on the left reference sample based on the length ofthe left side, and wherein the step of filtering the reference samplecomprises: filtering the top reference sample and the left referencesample independently according to a result of the determination.
 17. Thevideo decoding method of claim 14, wherein the step of determiningwhether to perform filtering comprises: determining whether to performfiltering on the reference sample according to whether a first squareblock having a pixel number identical with a pixel number of the currentblock or a second square block which is a greatest block of squareblocks having a pixel number smaller than the pixel number of thecurrent block satisfies a predefined filtering performance condition.18. The video decoding method of claim 14, wherein whether to performthe filtering is determined to be performed when a first quantizationparameter related to a quantization rate of the current block is greaterthan a first threshold, wherein the step of filtering the referencesample comprises: determining a filter type depending on whether thefirst quantization parameter is greater than the first threshold. 19.The video decoding method of claim 14, wherein whether to perform thefiltering is determined to be performed when a vertical distance betweena prediction sample within the current block is greater than a secondthreshold, when a horizontal distance between the prediction block andthe left reference sample is greater than a third threshold or when thevertical distance is greater than the second threshold and thehorizontal distance is greater than the third threshold wherein thecurrent block parameter comprises at least one of a vertical distancebetween a prediction sample within the current block and the topreference sample or a horizontal distance between the prediction blockand the left reference sample, wherein the step of filtering thereference sample comprises: determining a filter type depending onwhether the vertical distance is greater than the second thresholdand/or when the horizontal distance is greater than the third threshold.20. The video decoding method of claim 14, wherein the peripheral blockparameter comprises a second quantization parameter related to aquantization rate of the peripheral block, wherein whether to performthe filtering is determined to be performed when the second quantizationparameter is greater than a fourth threshold, and wherein the step offiltering the reference sample comprises: determining a filter typedepending on whether the second quantization parameter is greater thanthe fourth threshold.
 21. The video decoding method of claim 14, whereinthe peripheral block parameter comprises a number of residualcoefficients of the peripheral block, wherein whether to perform thefiltering is determined to be performed when the number of residualcoefficients is greater than a fifth threshold, and wherein the step offiltering the reference sample comprises: determining a filter typedepending on whether the number of residual coefficients is greater thanthe fifth threshold.
 22. The video decoding method of claim 14, whereinthe peripheral block parameter comprises a flag indicating whether aresidual coefficient is present in the peripheral block, and whereinwhether to perform the filtering is determined to be performed when theflag indicates that the residual coefficient is present.
 23. The videodecoding method of claim 14, wherein the peripheral block parametercomprises an edge parameter indicating whether at least one of the topreference sample or the left reference sample is configured with samplesbelonging to different peripheral blocks, and wherein whether to performthe filtering is determined to be performed when the edge parameterindicates that at least one of the top reference sample or the leftreference sample is configured with samples belonging to the differentperipheral samples.
 24. The video decoding method of claim 14, whereinthe peripheral block parameter comprises a number of differentperipheral samples to which the reference sample belongs, whereinwhether to perform the filtering is determined to be performed when thenumber of different peripheral samples is greater than a sixththreshold, and wherein the step of filtering the reference samplecomprises: determining a filter type depending on whether the number ofdifferent peripheral samples is greater than the sixth threshold. 25.The video decoding method of claim 14, further comprising: confirmingwhether the top reference sample and the left reference sample arereferenceable, wherein in determining whether to perform the filtering,if one of the top reference sample and the left reference sample isreferenceable, whether to perform the filtering is determined based on alength of a side neighboring a referenceable sample among a top sidelength of the current block or a left side of the current block, andotherwise, whether to perform the filtering is determined based on alength of a side having a greater value or a length of a side having asmaller value among the top side length and the left side length orwhether to perform filtering on the top reference sample and the leftreference sample are independently determined based on the top sidelength and the left side length.
 26. An apparatus for decoding video,comprising: an intra prediction unit configured to generate a predictionblock of a current block based on an intra prediction mode, wherein theintra prediction unit comprises: an intra prediction mode acquisitionunit configured to obtain the intra prediction mode of the currentblock; a reference sample acquisition unit configured to obtain areference sample for intra prediction; a reference sample filtering unitconfigured to determine whether to perform filtering on the referencesample and to filter the reference sample when the filtering isdetermined to be performed; and a prediction block generation unitconfigured to generate the prediction block of the current block usingthe reference sample of the current block or the filtered referencesample, wherein whether to perform the filtering is determined based onat least one of an intra prediction mode, a number of pixels of thecurrent block, a left side or an top side of the current block, and aneighboring block parameter related to a neighboring block of thecurrent block.